In the eighteenth century two conductors were often used for operas. One conductor would direct the singers and the other conductor would direct the orchestra. On occasion there were three directors. The principle o

He traveled Europe playing over one hundred live performances, averaging about three to four a week. Upon returning home in 1961, Lewis made his subscription concert debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic when the guest conductor fell ill. He was an instant hit and soon thereafter, Lewis accepted an associate conductor’s position with the Orchestra. He led the orchestra throughout California and Europe. He diversified his talent by conducting with the San Francisco Opera, as well as the Metropolitan opera in New York. On tour in the U.S. and Japan Lewis had numerous performances. In 1968, Lewis was appointed music director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. In eight years. In eight years he rebuilt the orchestra from a somewhat mediocre ensemble to a remarkable professional, contract orchestra. He performed over 125 concerts a season in and out of state.

Lewis grew up in a relatively poor environment. At the age of five he started piano lessons and went on to try many other orchestral instruments before turning to the double bass. He was forced into playing the bass, for it was the only way he could play in his school orchestra. He began conducting in junior high: performing “Grand March” from “Aida” on graduation day. Lewis’s bass talent stemmed from Herman Reinshagen, who came to Los Angeles after many years of playing for the New York Philharmonic. Reinshagen guided Lewis’s development as a virtuoso bass player and solo recitalist. After his success with the Los Angeles Philharmonic he received a scholarship to the University of Southern California. His success soared until he was drafted in 1955, into the Seventh Army Symphony as bass player and conductor.

A conductor is an individual who guides a unique aggregation of instrumentalist. Requirements of a successful conductor are; enormous authority, mastery of conducting mechanics, extensive knowledge, uncanny powers of communication, and a profound perception of music’s inner meaning. A conductor is one who has the ability to communicate his ideas about a composition through his instrument, which is the orchestra. A conductor can do as he pleases as long as he justifies his actions. Also, the conductor illustrates a technical bond between himself and the orchestra. Furthermore, the conductor is the most visible individual associated with the orchestra making his actions visible to all. Also the personality of the conductor plays a major role in how the orchestra is conducted. The conductor is a communicator of musical ideas, with the responsibility of serving the music. In all, a conductor must be a born leader who understands the responsibilities of leadership and is never deluded with a sense of absolute power.

The art of conducting goes back centuries. It is hard to place an exact date and assign a specific person the honor of being the first conductor. However, an Italian-born, French-educated Jean Baptiste Lully (1632-1687) is generally designated as being the first important conductor in the history of music. He was director of music for Louis the Fourteenth of France. Lully taught his men a uniform manner of bowing, developed orchestral discipline, and achieved a rhythmic precision unknown till then. He became a model

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